Boynton Blvd. speed changes linked to design

Q Why are there two different speed limits on Boynton Beach Boulevard between Congress Avenue and Old Boynton Road in Boynton Beach? Signs say 40 mph westbound and 30 mph eastbound.

Richard Klein, Boynton Beach

The 30-mph speed limit may have been a holdover from a recent construction project on Boynton Beach Boulevard between Old Boynton and Federal Highway.

Signs with the correct speed limits should now be in place. But there is a legitimate difference between the westbound and eastbound speed limits east of Old Boynton Road.

The westbound speed limit is 40 mph while the eastbound speed limit is posted at 35 mph. Westbound Boynton Beach Boulevard has three "through" lanes west of Interstate 95 while the eastbound side has two through lanes.

Q Why are there no truck lane restrictions on Interstate 595 in Broward County? At rush hour, it seems like a good idea to ask trucks and other slower traffic to stay to the right and keep the left lane open.

Brian Piper, Weston

The Florida Department of Transportation has not studied the impact of truck lane restrictions on I-595 like the agency did for I-95 more than 15 years ago.

The end points of I-595 make lane restrictions problematic, according to state officials.

Eastbound I-595 ends with the right lanes exiting to U.S. 1 and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the left lanes, which carry most of the truck traffic, continue to Port Everglades. Westbound I-595 splits into three roads in Sunrise: southbound Interstate 75, northbound I-75 and the northbound Sawgrass Expressway.

Forcing trucks into the right lanes, then requiring them to merge back for exits on the left could create even more problems.

Q Is the state seriously considering narrowing the lanes on Interstate 95 to make room for express toll lanes? I drive I-95 to get to work in Hallandale Beach and people don't stay in their lanes now.

Sandra Kichler, Lauderhill

Yes, some lanes will lose about a foot while others will remain the existing 12 feet wide.

From the Golden Glades interchange to I-595, I-95 will have two 11-foot express toll lanes, two 11-foot and two 12-foot travel lanes and a 10-foot outside shoulder. South of the Golden Glades, I-95 will have two 11-foot travel lanes and four 11-foot travel lanes. The outside shoulder will shrink to as narrow as 7 feet in some areas.

The express lanes will be separated from the travel lanes by a 3-foot buffer filled with plastic poles.

While the recommended national standard lane width is 12 feet, 11 feet is accepted and is commonly found in many urban areas.

Construction will begin early next year on northbound I-95 from State Road 112 to the Golden Glades. The northbound express lanes will open in the summer of 2008. The southbound express lanes between I-395 and the Golden Glades and northbound express lanes between I-395 and S.R. 112 will open in the summer of 2009. Express lanes in both directions of I-95 from the Golden Glades to I-595 will open in the summer of 2010.